Method and structure for protection of a habitable area from tornado

ABSTRACT

An artificial hill is disclosed protecting a habitable area from tornados, having a predetermined height and slope angles. The hill is capable of dispersing tornados and protecting the area therefrom. The hill comprises a top portion having a predetermined height and including solid bodies, a footing portion having a predetermined height, and a means for heating the solid bodies. Preferable configurations and locations of the hill, sizes of the heights and slope angles, and weights of the solid bodies are specified. Preferable materials for building the hill are described, including rocks, concrete slabs, used auto tires and auto bodies, etc. Preferable types of the heating means are discussed. A method for constructing the hill is included. Various objects can be built on or in the hill, including windmills, antennas, solar panels, recreation zones, as well as agricultural, entertainment, storage, and industrial facilities, which increases economical effectiveness of the structure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of tornado protection devices and methods, particularly to constructions protecting a habitable residential or industrial area from tornados.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is known a tornado protection system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,916: “A pressure stabilizing system for equalizing the pressure within an enclosure and the atmosphere during rapidly developing low pressure atmospheric conditions comprising a duct with a blow out valve or a valve positively operated by an electrical or gas operated system and a pressure detector to activate the electrical or gas operated valve.” The system can be installed on an individual structure, and protects only that structure. Therefore, if a town consists of ten thousand private houses, it would need ten thousand such systems.

Another solution is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,129,627: “A tornado protected cooling tower. The tower includes a plurality of enclosed cooling cells arranged about the periphery of an open cooling basin. Each of the cells includes a cool air inlet along the side thereof opposite the open cooling basin and a warm air outlet along the side thereof adjacent the open cooling basin. A plurality of fans are mounted within each of the cells along the side thereof adjacent the open cooling basin in direct communication with the warm air outlet. Each of the cells further includes an inner wall having an apron portion extending downwardly below the lowest component of the fans. Water distribution means is provided for carrying water upwardly from the open cooling basin into each of the cells for discharge in uniformly dispersed fashion within the cell. Each of the cells includes a perforate fill material supported by fill support means below the water distribution means and above the cool air inlet. A covered collecting basin is provided within each of the cells below the water distribution system, perforate fill, fill support means, and cool air inlet. With these features, the fans draw cool air into the cool air inlets upward through the perforate fill material for discharge out the warm air outlets and the water distribution means carry water from the open cooling basin upward into the cells for discharge above the perforate fill material, the water showering downwardly through the perforate fill material into the collecting basins, the air flowing upwardly through the perforate fill material to cool the downwardly showering water.” This tornado protection tower may protect a lot of houses, not only one. However, the tower has a complicated design and might be economically inefficient.

Another U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,943, hereby incorporated by reference, teaches: “Method and apparatus for the utilization of solar energy with collecting units that are located in geostatic orbits. The collecting units include collecting mirrors coupled to navigation units, protecting mirrors and concentrating mirrors. Mirror arrays are provided in the collecting units, the separate members of the arrays being computer controlled to concentrate solar energy toward the earth. The solar energy thus concentrated can be directed toward atmospheric disturbances to disperse them, or it can be used for the production of steam and/or electrical energy.” This exemplifies a powerful global system and looks very expensive to build and maintain.

What is desired is a simply designed and economically viable structure capable of protecting a town, a village, or an industrial area from tornados.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, such structure is designed as an artificial hill capable of protecting a habitable area from tornados. The hill has a predetermined height and slope angles. The hill comprises a top portion having a predetermined height and including solid bodies, a footing portion having a predetermined height, and a means for heating the solid bodies. The heated top portion is capable of dispersing tornados. Preferable configurations and locations of the hill, sizes of the heights and slope angles, and weights of the solid bodies are specified in the present disclosure. Preferable materials for building the hill are described, including rocks, concrete slabs, used auto tires and auto bodies, etc. Preferable types of the heating means are also discussed below. A method for constructing the hill is included in the description. Various objects can be built on or in the hill, including a windmill, antennas, solar panels, park zone, agricultural or entertainment facilities, which increase economical effectiveness of the hill.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a general schematic view showing the inventive structure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the inventive structure with additional equipment (antennas and a windmill) placed thereon.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the inventive structure with additional equipment (a television translation tower) placed thereon.

FIG. 4 is a general schematic view showing the inventive structure with additional equipment (solar power panels) placed thereon.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the inventive structure with a spiral road arranged thereon.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating an inventive method of construction of the inventive structure utilizing a crane.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the inventive structure with a heating means arranged therein.

Each reference numeral indicated on FIGS. 1-6 denotes an element of the inventive structures described herein below. Identical elements on different figures are denoted by identical reference numerals, unless otherwise stated in the description. A first time introduced reference numeral in the description is enclosed into parentheses.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

While the invention may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will be described in detail herein, specific embodiments of the present invention, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to that as illustrated and described herein.

According to the instant inventor's long term observations: a) tornados tend avoiding regions with landscape heights (they are practically not observed in mountains or in places surrounded by hills); b) if a hill has a top portion including solid bodies (such as a pile of rocks/stones, concrete slabs, used auto bodies, damped pieces of transportation means or equipment suitably shaped, etc.) heated to a predetermined temperature higher than the temperature of surrounding air, a tornado is attracted to the top, releases its power there, and then is essentially dispersed; thereby the surrounding buildings and houses are protected from the tornado.

A preferable way of heating up the solid bodies on the top portion is the accumulation of natural solar energy in the form of heat and applying the heat at least to the outer surface of the top portion of hill at least in the time of an emerging tornado. Known devices can be deployed for such purpose, for example: an “energy system for buildings” described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,339 hereby incorporated by reference. In some embodiments, optical concentrators (reflecting mirrors and lenses—not illustrated) placed on the outer surface of the hill can be used to focus solar rays on the top portion thereof.

Alternatively, the solid bodies can be heated up with different conventional means, for instance: with hot liquids, gases, or steam produced by known heating equipment placed preferably under the top in a place (11), as shown on FIG. 7, wherein such equipment can be fueled e.g. by natural gas, etc.

Alternatively, known methods of electromagnetic heating can be utilized, e.g. if the top portion includes electro-conductive bodies or layers. The solid bodies can be coated with electro-conductive layers. Known inductive or other electric current sources can be used for heating up the layers or the whole solid bodies on the top of hill upon localization of an emerging tornado. Such sources can be disposed preferably under the top of the hill in the place 11, as shown on FIG. 7.

Alternatively, known chemical substances capable of accumulation of heat might be employed, and the heat would be delivered to the solid bodies with a suitable work fluid. A reservoir with such substances can be disposed preferably under the top of the hill in the place 11, as shown on FIG. 7.

A preferred embodiment of the inventive structure, as shown on FIG. 1, comprises an artificially built hill (1) having a height (H) and predetermined slope angles ALPHA. The hill 1 is preferably configured as a cone with a round base. Other embodiments of the hill may however have another configuration, such as a pyramid, etc. The hill 1 has a top portion (2) and a footing portion (3). The height of the top 2 is (h1), and the height of the footing 3 is (h2).

The middle portion of the hill 1 between the footing portion 3 and top portion 2 can be filled with soil, rocks, or the like. Alternatively, metal, synthetic, or other suitable materials (such as used auto tires or damped auto bodies) can be used for constructing a carcass of the hill and/or for covering it. In some embodiments, the hill may be composed of damped or processed garbage.

The height H should preferably be at least 350 feet (about 100 meters) to effectively protect the surrounding buildings and houses from tornados.

If the hill 1 is configured as a cone, the ALPHA angles are substantially equal, and should preferably have a range from 40 to 50 degrees.

The top portion 2 should preferably be filled or at least its outer surface should be covered with rocks/concrete slabs (or similar solid bodies) weighting at least 400 lbs (200 KG).

The height h1 should preferably be in the range of 10-20% of H. The height h2 should preferably be substantially 8 feet.

The footing portion 3 should preferably be laid over with rocks or concrete slabs all around the hill. In some embodiments, it may be entirely built of concrete. Such design should prevent the hill from falling apart.

The hill 1 should be built at a predetermined peripheral point of the habitable area (e.g. a town) to provide protection of the area from tornados. For example, if tornados commonly come from the north-west direction, the hill should be arranged on that direction in front of the town to overtake the most frequent tornados.

To be economically viable, the hill can be deployed for arrangement of various objects useful for the community residing in the protected area.

As shown on FIG. 2, cellular telephone station antennas (5) can be mounted on the side surface of the hill 1. A windmill (10) can be mounted on the top portion 2.

FIG. 3 illustrates a TV re-transmitter tower (6) mounted on the top portion 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a plurality of solar power panels (7) placed on the side surface of hill 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates a motor way configured as a spiral road (8) arranged on the hill 1.

The inner space of hill 1 can be used for storage or any suitable industrial purposes (not illustrated). The outer surface can be utilized for growing fruit or decorative trees (not illustrated), creating a recreation zone, etc. The hill may be employed for agriculture as well.

It can also be used for entertainment purposes. For instance, a cable road (not illustrated) can be arranged connecting the hill with the surrounding places. Other entertainment or sports facilities can arranged inside and outside the hill.

In some embodiments, where the habitable area is frequently subjected to floods or hurricanes, special shelters (not illustrated) can be arranged on or in the hill.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for construction of the artificial hill 1 is illustrated on FIG. 6. A construction crane (9) is initially assembled at the site of construction of the hill. Using the crane 9, construction workers lift and lay the solid bodies (e.g. rocks or concrete slabs), according to a predetermined configuration of the hill 1. At the end of construction works, the crane can be dissembled, except for the vertical support tower, whose remaining portion will vertically protrude from the top portion 2. It can then be used, for example, for mounting a windmill, or antenna (as shown on FIGS. 2 and 3), or other equipment. Alternatively, other methods can be employed for construction of the hill 1. 

1. An artificial hill for protection of a habitable area from tornados, said hill having a predetermined height H and predetermined slope angles ALPHA, said hill comprising: a top portion having a predetermined height h1, said top portion, at least on its outer surface, including solid bodies; a footing portion having a predetermined height h2; and a means for heating at least the external surface of said solid bodies, wherein said means for heating is placed either outside or inside said hill.
 2. The artificial hill according to claim 1, wherein said hill is configured as a cone with a round base.
 3. The artificial hill according to claim 2, wherein said angles ALPHA are substantially equal and defined in the range from 40 to 50 degrees.
 4. The artificial hill according to claim 1, wherein said hill is configured as a pyramid.
 5. The artificial hill according to claim 1, wherein said solid bodies are made of rock or concrete slabs.
 6. The artificial hill according to claim 1, further including a middle portion situated between said footing portion and said top portion, said middle portion composed of at least one of the following: soil, rocks, metal, synthetic material, used auto tires, used auto bodies, damped garbage, and processed garbage.
 7. The artificial hill according to claim 1, wherein said height H is arranged at least 100 meters.
 8. The artificial hill according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of said top portion is covered with rocks or concrete slabs weighting at least 200 KG.
 9. The artificial hill according to claim 1, wherein said top portion is filled with rocks or concrete slabs weighting at least 200 KG.
 10. The artificial hill according to claim 1, wherein said height h1 is defined in the range of 10-20% of said height H.
 11. The artificial hill according to claim 1, wherein said height h2 is made substantially 8 feet.
 12. The artificial hill according to claim 1, wherein said footing portion is laid over with rocks or concrete slabs all around the hill.
 13. The artificial hill according to claim 1, wherein said footing portion is entirely composed of concrete.
 14. The artificial hill according to claim 1, said hill is be built at a predetermined peripheral point of said habitable area.
 15. The artificial hill according to claim 1, wherein said hill is used for placement at least one of the following: TV or cellular telephone antennas, a windmill, a plurality of solar power panels, a motor way, a recreation zone, an entertainment or sports facility, an agricultural facility, and a shelter.
 16. The artificial hill according to claim 1, wherein said means for heating supply heat to said solid bodies at least at the time of an emerging tornado.
 17. A method for construction of an artificial hill according to claim 1, said method comprising the steps of: assembling a construction crane including a vertical support tower at the site of construction of said hill; lifting and placing said solid bodies according to a predetermined configuration of said hill; and dissembling said crane at the end of construction works, except for the vertical support, tower, said vertical support tower is capable of being further used for mounting equipment. 